diff --git a/tests/expansion.in b/tests/expansion.in
index cfdcfa366..207b811c3 100644
--- a/tests/expansion.in
+++ b/tests/expansion.in
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # Test expansion of variables
 
+# We don't use the test utility function of the same name because we want
+# different behavior. Specifically, that the expansion of any variables or
+# other strings before we are invoked produce the expected expansion.
 function show --description 'Prints argument count followed by arguments'
     echo (count $argv) $argv
 end
diff --git a/tests/function.in b/tests/function.in
index 25b1f561d..11e0c503f 100644
--- a/tests/function.in
+++ b/tests/function.in
@@ -2,26 +2,13 @@
 #
 # Test the `function` builtin
 
-# utility function
-function show_ary -a name --no-scope-shadowing
-    set -l count (count $$name)
-    echo "\$$name: ($count)"
-    if test $count -gt 0
-        for i in (seq $count)
-            echo "$i: '$$name[1][$i]'"
-        end
-    end
-end
-
 # Test the -V flag
 set -g foo 'global foo'
 set -l foo 'local foo'
 set bar one 'two    2' \t '' 3
 set baz
 function frob -V foo -V bar -V baz
-    show_ary foo
-    show_ary bar
-    show_ary baz
+    show foo bar baz
 end
 echo "Testing -V"
 frob
diff --git a/tests/function.out b/tests/function.out
index 6845d37f0..da6ea47d2 100644
--- a/tests/function.out
+++ b/tests/function.out
@@ -1,23 +1,23 @@
 Testing -V
-$foo: (1)
-1: 'local foo'
-$bar: (5)
-1: 'one'
-2: 'two    2'
-3: '	'
-4: ''
-5: '3'
-$baz: (0)
+$foo count=1
+$foo[1]=|local foo|
+$bar count=5
+$bar[1]=|one|
+$bar[2]=|two    2|
+$bar[3]=|	|
+$bar[4]=||
+$bar[5]=|3|
+$baz count=0
 Testing -V with changed variables
-$foo: (1)
-1: 'local foo'
-$bar: (5)
-1: 'one'
-2: 'two    2'
-3: '	'
-4: ''
-5: '3'
-$baz: (0)
+$foo count=1
+$foo[1]=|local foo|
+$bar count=5
+$bar[1]=|one|
+$bar[2]=|two    2|
+$bar[3]=|	|
+$bar[4]=||
+$bar[5]=|3|
+$baz count=0
 Function name1 found
 Function name2 not found as expected
 Function name3 found